Contact Information:

Debra Traverso
P.O. Box 4842
Hagerstown, MD 21742-4872
240-782-4218

Current Projects

I'd love to hear more stories on either of the two projects below. My publishers expect me to turn them into books, but they could also be for articles, profiles, or who knows what might turn up outside the proverbial box.

But first a word about my philosophy: Nothing in the world is more disappointing or misleading than books developed from convenient and official research — those polls and surveys, those lists that magazines form from "research" organizations, those random samplings of "man in the street" interviews that journalists peddle as authentic.

Official research does not tell you what people are really thinking or what drives them; unofficial research does. For example, every generality and characteristic I read about what I am supposed to do, eat, believe, and fear based on my personal demographics and psychographics is generally wrong.

So much for "official" research. That's why I'm looking for you and other people who are actually living/breathing/doing the situations I'm writing about.

Please be aware, however, that due to the nature of the development of a book, I may not be able to respond to you immediately.

E-mail me at: debra@debratraverso.com

Unique, Unusual or All-out-crazy Lifestyles — Could I Have One Too? (Or, What a Cool Way to Make a Living!)
(That's merely a working title for now)

If you're living a lifestyle that seems to intrigue people, or make them envious, I'd like to hear about it too. I'm looking for people who have found an alternative, atypical or unusual lifestyle and who have sustained it for at least three or more years. By "alternative" I'm not talking about sexual, racial or cultural orientation. What I mean is that you don't adhere to the typical 9 to 5 grind. You carry out your life and make a living by doing unusual work, or living in an out-of-the-ordinary place. You're probably your own boss; but not always. You've found a way to do things better for your soul.

Examples: One of my interviewees is an international consultant, living in Russia six months of the year and the other six months in the United States. Another interviewee is a ranger living in a very unusual and remote place. Another family lives, self-sufficiently and without electricity, at least a four-hour plane ride from the nearest town. Still another sells a product of such a high-end caliber that he only has to make three deals a year to afford his beach house and two BMWs; what's more, he does not have a college education. Another interviewee housesits mansions year round and turns them into profit centers by simultaneously renting them out for conferences, parties; still another, at age 37, works (and lives) at YMCA camps throughout the 50 states.

I'm interested in knowing: How did you end up in this situation? What happened to make you realize this was the life for you? What physical and emotional obstacles did you overcome to end up where you are? What are the benefits? Disadvantages? Describe the lifestyle. What does it give you that a more "common" lifestyle does not? Will you be able to sustain this lifestyle? How do you know?

E-mail me at: debra@debratraverso.com

Why Am I Living Here?
(Again, this is just a working title for now)

I'm interested in hearing from people who have found the quintessential place (for them) to live. This place is perfect for lots of reasons. Or, you've lived somewhere unusual and unique, and you've found that it is just not for you. I want to hear about it. I'm not looking for homesickness stories — those people who moved away then came home because they wanted to be near family. While touching, these stories are very prevalent; returning to our roots is a common theme in our society.

What's not common is finding a new lifestyle that's very unrelated to the way/place that you grew up. I'm especially interested in stories of how your new home area's physical characteristics, pace of life, or unusual attitudes impacted your decisions to live there. I'd like readers to be able to make evaluations from your experience as to whether your region or specific location (such as a boat) would be right for them too. Please don't waste my time with stories of how perfect a region is merely because you got a disgustingly high-paying job there; that's another common them in our society: moving for our work.

Examples: one of my interviewees thought island life would fulfill his ultimate dreams until he learned that his guests had to leave his parties (which was his favorite way of spending every Saturday night) by 9 p.m. in order to catch the last ferry back to the mainland. Another interviewee will offer the top 40 things any city dweller needs to know about life in the country before moving there. Another interviewee will tell you all about creative storage solutions, loss of personal space, and other challenges of living on a boat fulltime. One interviewee has sworn never to return to the Big Apple, while another pledges to never leave it (even on vacation!). Still another interviewee sold a beautiful home to live life on the road (in a huge RV). Even if your stories are similar to these, let me know.

On the other hand: Does this Living Here book sound like crapola? Then tell me why. Is there something missing? Tell me what you think it is. Am I missing a certain philosophy or point of view? Tell me, tell me. As I implied on my home page, I learn a lot from critics and other kind souls who can identify perspectives I may have overlooked. What do you feel is important when deciding where to live your life?

E-mail me at: debra@debratraverso.com

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